Trooper George L. Hanna
The Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery is an annual award ceremony named after Trooper George L. Hanna, who lost his life serving the Commonwealth on February 26, 1983. Trooper Hanna began his career on October 15, 1974 and served nearly ten years with the Massachusetts State Police.
On Saturday, February 26, 1983, Trooper Hanna conducted a motor vehicle stop in the town of Auburn. Three men and two women were in the vehicle, and when Trooper Hanna removed the occupants for questioning, he was instantaneously shot six times by one of the male suspects. He died later that evening in a Worcester hospital, leaving behind his wife Marilyn, and three children, Deborah, Kimberly, and Michael. His three assailants are serving life sentences.
Awards
The Hanna Awards, which have been held annually since 1983, have become a symbol of prestige, within both the law enforcement community and the Commonwealth as a whole. It's an opportunity to publicly recognize the bravery of members of the law enforcement community who put their lives on the line by dedicating themselves to safety throughout Massachusetts.
Nominations are made for outstanding acts of bravery performed by a member (or members) of your department between January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, following these criteria. The selection committee will require a detailed narrative of the incident for which your member is being nominated, along with news clippings or any substantiating information you feel will assist the selection committee with its decision